President Barack Obama ordered flags on the White House grounds to be flown at half-staff on Tuesday.
WASHINGTON -- President Barack Obama ordered flags on the White House grounds and other government facilities to be flown at half-staff on Tuesday to honor the victims of a deadly shooting last week in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
"Our thoughts and prayers as a Nation are with the servicemembers killed last week in Chattanooga. We honor their service. We offer our gratitude to the police officers and first responders who stopped the rampage and saved lives," Obama said in a proclamation. "We draw strength from yet another American community that has come together with an unmistakable message to those who would try and do us harm: We do not give in to fear. You cannot divide us. And you will not change our way of life."
Obama directed that the flags be flown at half-staff until sunset on Saturday.
Republicans had called on Obama to lower the flag before he announced that he would do so on Tuesday. House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) ordered flags at the U.S. Capitol be flown at half-staff earlier that day.
Five service members were killed after Muhammad Youssef Abdulazeez opened fire at two military recruitment facilities.